Ssociation 2012 Conventions & Facilities the Source for Association Meeting Planning Management

A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION TheMeetingMagazines.com Volume 5 • Number 1 $12.00 FEBRUARY/MARCH SSOCIATION 2012 CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES THE SOURCE FOR ASSOCIATION MEETING PLANNING MANAGEMENT Meeting Tech Trends New Ways to Boost Engagement and Revenue PAGE 16 Meetups, such as this one sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, connect Photo courtesy IndustryPhoto of Biotechnology Organization participants in advance via social media. Medical Meetings 10 | CVB & Convention Center Update 20 | Florida 28 In This Issue ISSN 21628831 USPS 003500 A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION SSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES ATHE SOURCE FOR ASSOCIATION MEETING PLANNING MANAGEMENT February / March 2012 Volume 5 • Number 1 Departments Features 4 Publisher’s Page 10 Just What the 6 News & Notes Doctor Ordered Growing Attendance and New Venues 10 Provide Welcome Relief From the 34 Career Track Recession’s Aches and Pains By John Buchanan 35 Direct Connect 16 Get on Board Elevate the Meeting Experience with Trendy Tech Tools ViewPoint By George Seli 8 Technology 20 CVB & Convention How to Use Technology to Center Update Accelerate Business Attracting Association Meetings With 20 By Brad Weaber New Technology, New Builds and More By Kelle Barr Destinations 28 Florida Where ‘Attraction’ Is the Name of the Game By George Seli Photo by Jacob Slaton, www.jacobslaton.com Jacob Slaton, by Photo 16 28 Association Conventions & Facilities is published bi-monthly by Coastal Communications Corporation, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394; 561-989-0600. Single copies $12.00 U.S.A. only. Yearly subscription price is $60.00 in the U.S.A. Canada and foreign is $125.00. Back copies $13.00 plus shipping and handling, U.S.A. only. Distributed without charge to qualified personnel. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boca Raton, FL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send Form 3579 address changes to Association Conventions & Facilities, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394. Nothing contained in this publication shall constitute an endorsement by Coastal Communications Corporation (Association Conventions & Facilities), and the publication disclaims any liability with respect to the use of or reliance on any such information. The information contained in this publication is in no way to be construed as a recommendation by AC&F of any industry standard, or as a recommendation of any kind to be adopted by or to be binding upon any advertiser or subscriber. Reproduction of any portion of this publication by any means is strictly forbidden. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. Subscribers: Send subscription inquiries and address changes to: Circulation Department, Association Conventions & Facilities, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394. Provide old and new addresses including zip code. Enclose address label from most recent issue and please allow five weeks for the change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. © 2012. TheMeetingMagazines.com Association Conventions & Facilities FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012 3 Publisher’s Page Staying Ahead of the Curve January in San Diego was sunny all over, and not just because of A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION the weather. The Professional Convention Management Association WEBSITE (PCMA) Annual Meeting, Convening Leaders, reported an increase in www.themeetingmagazines.com overall attendance compared to last year “by a very small margin,” but PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF professional planner participation increased year-over-year by 9 percent. Harvey Grotsky This may or may not be in part due to an increase in employment [email protected] numbers for meeting planners: Survey results from the December 2011 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mitch D. Miller Business Barometer issued by Meeting Professionals International reveal [email protected] that 10 percent more meeting professionals have seen increased full- Grace L. Jan, CAE, CMP time employment in the U.S. and Europe since October 2011, and 15 MANAGING EDITORS Susan W. Fell Vice President of Meetings, percent more report increases in part-time and contract employment. [email protected] Management Solutions Plus Inc. Beyond the numbers at PCMA was the energy I felt walking around Susan S. Gregg the San Diego Convention Center. It called to mind Ronald Reagan’s [email protected] inspiring “It’s morning again in America” presidential campaign theme, CONTRIBUTING EDITORS which seems to ring true today for the growing optimism in the Mike Bassett Karen Brost meeting and convention industry. Fueling the buzz and excitement John Buchanan Stella Johnson are all the high-tech bells and whistles available to enhance attendee Derek Reveron engagement and interactivity before, during and after the meeting — George Seli and to boost revenue. PRESIDENT & CEO The Virtual Edge Summit, which co-located at Convening Leaders, Harvey Grotsky helped attendees learn how to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS physical side of events with digital strategies, from augmented reality to David A. Middlebrook augmenting the event with a virtual component. And that’s where the [email protected] revenue comes in. According to Michael Doyle, executive director of the ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES Virtual Edge Institute, “Less than 15 percent of events have historically 2700 N. Military Trail, Suite 120 Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394 Omni understands been capturing their content and making it available after the event. 561-989-0600 Fax: 561-989-9509 With the hybrid elements in the physical and virtual running at the At Omni, we understand that you need a venue that has it all—including entertained NORTHEAST same time, much more content is being captured and then repurposed 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 attendees. That’s why we offer resort properties in sought-after destinations, to drive future engagement.” You might say that staying ahead of the [email protected] complete with advanced meeting technology and on-site activities. So you can curve brings events full circle. plan an unforgettable meeting that offers the perfect mix of business and pleasure. FLORIDA/CARIBBEAN The stories in this issue speak to the importance of staying ahead 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 of the technological curve. SmithBucklin’s Brad Weaber on page 8 [email protected] 800-788-6664 omniunderstands.com gets right to the bottom line: “Associations cannot afford to be on SOUTHWEST the fence about whether or not they should incorporate technology 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 [email protected] into their meetings. Rather, they need to ask how incorporating technology can be done effectively while generating revenue at the SOUTHEAST 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 same time.” Read on about new high-tech tools used by associations [email protected] like the Biotechnology Industry Organization (pictured on our cover) to facilitate and augment the attendee experience (page 18); and how MIDWEST 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 CVBs and convention centers are keeping up their own hectic pace to [email protected] stay ahead of the curve (page 20). WEST Marshall Rubin 818-888-2407 • Fax: 818-888-4907 Omni Orlando Resort Omni Bedford Springs Resort Omni Denver Interlocken Resort [email protected] at ChampionsGate HAWAII 561-989-0600, ext. 114 • Fax: 561-989-9509 Harvey Grotsky [email protected] Publisher ©2011 Omni Hotels & Resorts 4 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012 Association Conventions & Facilities TheMeetingMagazines.com OMNI-1201E_grace_8.125x10.875_F.indd 1 10/7/11 2:46 PM News & Notes AIBTM Reports Spike in Hosted PCMA Launches a New The Homestead Begins $25 Million Transformation Buyer Group Coordinators New Owners of Manchester Grand Hyatt Education Gateway Portal LONDON, ENGLAND — The Americas Meetings & San Diego Reveal Renovation Plan CHICAGO, IL — The Professional Events Exhibition (AIBTM), Reed Travel Exhibitions’ SAN DIEGO, CA — Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego presented the re- Convention Management Association premiere provider for the U.S. meetings and events design of its guest rooms to meeting planners who attended PCMA’s (PCMA) announced the launch of industry, announced that it has more than 50 2012 Convening Leaders annual conference held in San Diego in EduGate — an education gateway Hosted Buyer Group Coordinators committed to January. Beginning in May 2012, the entire hotel will be renovated in- portal to facilitate the 24/7, 365-day AIBTM in Baltimore, June 19-21, 2012. According cluding 1,625 guest rooms, meeting and public space, as well as food submission of session proposals and to Reed Travel Exhibitions AIBTM Project Director and beverage outlets. The project is scheduled for completion in fall great ideas. With EduGate, PCMA has Steve Knight, group coordinators receive the 2013. The new owner of Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, a sub- created universal program submission same VIP treatment as Hosted Buyers. “They have sidiary of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. now owns more than 4,600 hotel standards. The portal allows PCMA to im- the opportunity to meet face-to-face with top rooms in the San Diego area. Located on the Gaslamp Quarter’s water- mediately assess a speaker’s fluency and clients

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